Category News

Downtown CourtWorks transforming local sports for youth and families

WATERLOO, IOWA (Excerpts from KWWL.COM)— A new sporting facility is set to change the landscape for young athletes in Eastern Iowa. Construction is progressing on CourtWorks, a large-scale facility in downtown Waterloo. This project promises to provide eight full-size basketball courts, which can also transform into 16 volleyball courts, accommodating various hard-court sports.

Ashley Johnson, Executive Director of the Cedar Valley Sports Commission, emphasized the potential impact of CourtWorks.

“What CourtWorks will be, is really kind of a more state championship, regional championship, national championship, caliber facility. So it’ll be larger events coming that bring a lot more outside visitors,” Johnson said.

Currently, about 25% of local youth in the Cedar Valley participate in traveling sports. With the new facility, families might no longer need to travel to places like Des Moines, Milwaukee, or Minneapolis for tournaments.

Waterloo River Lights Experience brings community together

WATERLOO, IOWA – Waterloo’s River Lights Experience is featured in this issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine. The article explores how the dynamic new programmed lighting installation not only highlights the falls and the 4th Street Bridge, it also brings the community together in a shared experience of energy and color.

The bridge and this part of the river had long been seen as a physical and socio-economic barrier between parts of the community. In his lighting ceremony address, Mayor Quentin Hart explained the transformation and its importance to the community this way. “I want it, once and for all, to transform this archaic symbol of division into a modern celebration of unity.”

Vandewalle & Associates and Eye Level Studio helped the City envision the transformation lighting could make to this section of the falls, and worked with Shakespeare Lighting and Rutland-Kuiper Architects to bring it to fruition.

Rise Madison Grand Opening

MADISON, WISC – Rise Madison is an all-affordable housing community in Madison, Wisconsin. It opened with four buildings (Hawthorne Pointe, The Starling, Vireo Townhomes; the fourth, The Phoebe, is expected in early October). whpc.com

The development has 245 units (one‑, two‑, and three‑bedroom) for families and seniors, with income restrictions between ~30‑80% of Area Median Income (AMI). 

Amenities include ~1.5 acres of green/open space, playground, community rooms, fitness rooms, rooftop plaza, underground parking; the site is well connected (public transit, schools, clinics). 

Funding sources include LIHTC (4%), tax‑exempt bonds, TIF, and state grants.

Block party launches Oaks of Jackson neighborhood

WASHINGTON CO. WISC. – On Wednesday, October 15 from 4-7 pm, the homeowners association of the Oaks of Jackson hosts its first ever community block party. Sponsors for the event include planners Vandewalle & Associates, as well as builders Harbor Homes and Hillcrest, and SEH the engineer/planner.

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Proven Principles Address the Housing Shortage

MADISON, WISC. For cities and villages in Dane County interested in addressing the housing shortage, the Grandview Commons residential mixed-use neighborhood on Madison’s far east side provides a real-world example of bringing together different types and densities of housing in one neighborhood, at a range of price points.

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New Affordable Housing on Madison’s East Side

MADISON (WKOW) — Rise Madison, a new affordable housing development geared toward working individuals, families and senior opened at 958 Rise Lane, at the intersection of East Washington and N. Fair Oaks Avenues.

The Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp., nonprofit owner and developer of the housing project, worked with developers and the City to bring about the project.

Affordable housing is much needed in Wisconsin’s fastest growing county. Local leaders expressed their hopes for the development and the opportunities it will give Madison residents.

Colorful tree for a colorful guy: an update

MADISON, WISC. – On July 8, a close group of Vandewalle & Associates employees present and past, along with members of the Slavney family, gathered in a private informal ceremony to honor the memory and legacy of community service of the late Mike Slavney, FAICP. A young Serviceberry tree was planted in tribute on the V&A grounds.

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Bayside approves $40M senior apartments with a full range of care options

BAYSIDE, WIS. – Bayside will soon get 153 new senior housing units in the OneNorth development at Port Washington Road and Brown Deer Road, offering the ability to provide a full range of senior care: Independent living, age-in-place assisted living, and memory care. This need was identified in the community’s updated Comprehensive Plan.

Not all assisted living or communities are fully continuity-of-care equipped. It’s an important factor to consider for the aging process, helping helps keep people in the community they know even as their needs change. The surrounding mixed-use development is expected to offer other walkable amenities seniors appreciate, such as a new library.

The apartments raise the 26-acre OneNorth development’s total investment to $100 million, Scott Yauck, Cobalt Partners president and chief executive officer, told the Journal Sentinel in November. In 2021, the village approved a tax incremental financing district that will help fund development on the site with $35 million in village financing.

Public engagement throughout the Comprehensive and OneNorth planning processes has helped the community express preferences and evolve the entire development to be closer to community goals.

Construction has now started, with the goal of completion by early 2027.

Madison’s Regent Street: unique, vital, and transforming

MADISON, WIS. – A public-private partnership led by the Regent Street Group has big ideas to turn a mile-long stretch of Madison’s Regent Street into a year-round entertainment district that plays on the area’s assets. Serving as a both a major transportation corridor and activity zone for UW Sports event-goers, it serves the diverse needs of students, healthcare workers, businesses, and neighborhood residents.

The area has already seen a dramatic increase in redevelopment and development density. But more transformation, much more, is coming.

In March, Rob Gottschalk from Vandewalle & Associates gave a well-received presentation on Regent Street. He explained the urgency to shape an aspirational vision now. He also shared some of the big ideas from the partnership. The goal is to inspire, secure Regent Street’s distinct character, and help shape the coming transformation to include a place for all users.

E. Scott Harrington, AICP: Dec 28, 1962 – Feb 14, 2025

With deep sorrow we share news of the passing of great champion of communities, principal planner, and friend Scott Harrington on 14 February.

Our team’s gratitude to Scott for his contributions over the last 22 years cannot be fully expressed. His impact on and in communities will only continue to grow.

As many of you know, Scott was diagnosed with a terminal illness just before Christmas. Being Scott, his first thought in late December was to help support clients and continue the great project momentum the team had built through our work together.

Scott was ever eager to share his expertise and deep knowledge, and helped build a formidable planning team. All of us will continue to benefit from his countless contributions in the months and years to come thanks to his undeniable energy, commitment, and powerful team spirit.

Scott’s family has shared this link to his official obituary: https://www.gundersonfh.com/obituaries/E-Scott-Harrington?obId=37337981.

As a company we are also gathering thoughts, stories, and condolences on our LinkedIn page from team clients, partners, colleagues, neighbors, and community. Please join us in that space to help honor Scott.

Grant success for Horicon transportation planning

HORICON, WISC. January 13, it was announced that the City of Horicon would receive a Federal grant of $160,000 for railroad safety planning and design. The announcement comes after the City worked with Vandewalle & Associates on a competitive grant writing process. Many V&A team members were involved in this effort. 

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Finnish company selects Jefferson site

Finnish food technology company Onego Bio has signed a letter of intent to purchase 25.9 acres of land located within Jefferson County’s Food and Beverage Innovation Campus on the south side of the City of Jefferson.

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Greendale plans upgrades to Community Center Park playground

The Village of Greendale asked for and received valuable input from Greendale residents to help plan and select new playground equipment for Community Center Park. Now that plan, first proposed in the Village’s 2023 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, is funded and in motion.

“This important project, highlighted in the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, aims to replace outdated equipment with ADA-compliant equipment and all-abilities components,” the village said in the post.

Concepts were submitted by three playground suppliers, each offering options at $150,000 and $300,000 budget levels.

With a successful CBDG grant award, the Village’s 2025 budget now approved, and rollover funds from 2024, the Village will be able to execute park improvements at the $300,000 level.

Portage Co. Safety Action Plan goes into effect

PORTAGE COUNTY: The Public Information Meeting on October 29th, 2024, for Portage County’s Safety Action Plan study was a big success, with numerous attendees sharing their thoughts about traffic safety.  The interactive learning tables helped explain concepts such as positively offset left-turn lanes, advanced yield lines, and multi-lane roundabout driving. 

Vandewalle & Associates has been leading the Portage County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update, one piece of the Portage County Safety Action Plan.

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Moline looks back on 35 years of change

MOLINE, ILLINOIS (EXCERPTS FROM QUADCITIESBUSINESS.COM): A recent article in QuadCitiesBusiness.com begins to tell the story of our founder, President and CEO Brian Vandewalle’s game-changing work 35 years ago in Moline.

“Downtown Moline looks the way it does largely because 35 years ago people like Jerry Butts, John Slover, Jerry Taylor, Bob Hanson and others were inspired to (form Renew Moline and) pursue a vision for their community” said Renew Moline’s President & CEO Alexandra Elias. A key part of the formula that included generous donations of property and funding from John Deere / Deere & Company and others.

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Eye Level Studio shares Cave of the Mounds visitor center

Eye Level Studio redesigned the Cave of the Mounds Visitor Center which reopened its doors this summer. The team also developed concepts and schematic plans for the Visitor Welcome Area which will be implemented next year.

Eye Level Studio has now developed concept plans and fresh stories for the Cave Entrance Building and its site and new destination, the Quarry.

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